Fruit-picker&#39;s bucket.



' J. T. COMPTON.

v FRUITPICKEWS BUCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 2, 1910.

1,012,602. Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

FRUIT PIGKER'S BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILEDIDEQZ, 1910.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

I amine/M501 COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. COMPTON, 0F WENATCI-IEE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK L. GLADISH, OF WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON.

V FRUIT-PICKERS BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COMPTON, citizen of the United States, residing at Wenatchee, in the county of Chelan and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ruit- Pickers Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in buckets or receptacles for use in picking fruit, and the invention has for its primary object an improved device of this character which will be characterized by simplicity of construction and efiiciency in operation, in which the parts are so arranged that the fruit may be emptied from the bottom of the bucket, thereby avoiding all bruising of the fruit by pouring the same out, or unnecessary handling of the fruit, and which will be so constructed that the bucket may be emptied with a minimum loss of time and with very little effort. And the invention also has for its object to generally improve this class of devices and to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of my improved fruit pickers bucket; Fig. 2 is a top perspective view thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device; Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view; and, Fig. 5 illustrates the latch and the keeper designed to co-act therewith.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

The main parts of my improved picking bucket are preferably composed of sheet metal and comprise a body portion 1 which in the present instance is substantially rec tangular in shape with relatively long sides and relatively short ends. The body portion is preferably wired around the upper and lower edges so as to reinforce it, the

lower wire designated 2 serving as the direct support .for the bottom of the device which is divided longitudinally into two cor responding sections, the same being designated 3 and t'respectively. In the present instance, the sections 3 and 4; are pivotally connected at their outer side edges to the wire 2 as by strap hinges 5, as clearly illustrated in the drawing.

The sections 3 and 4: which together compose the bottom of the bucket are each composed of sheet metal, and the section 3 is wired around its marginal edge, as indicated at 6. At the free corners of the section 3, the wire 6 is looped upon itself to form eyes 7 designed to receive a flexible binding member 8 having a running engagement therewith. One end of the binding member 8 (which member may be of rope) has secured to it a preferably metallic sleeve 9 on which a latch 10 is formed, the said latch being designed to be slipped over lugs 12 which form part of a keeper 13. The keeper 13 is secured to one end of the body portion 1 of the bucket, and is preferably formed of a strip of sheet metal riveted or otherwise secured to the'bucket and crimped intermediate of its ends to form the laterally spaced lugs 12, said lugs being designed to receive between them the sleeve 9 of the latch 10, when the shoulders 10 of the latch are in engagement with the lugs. The latch 10 is curved or angularly formed, as shown so that its upper end will form a finger piece 10 by which the latch may be easily manipulated. The other end of the binding member 8 is secured to a sleeve 9 forming part of a plate 13 riveted or otherwise secured to the end of the bucket opposite the end' where the keeper 13 is located.

If desired, the strip of metal 13 and the part 13 may be extended outwardly and upwardly at their upper ends to form apertured ears 15 designed for engagement by snap hooks 16 secured to the ends of an adjustable shoulder strap, 17 by which the device may be carried over the shoulder of the operator.

The bucket may also be equipped with an ordinary swinging bail 18 secured to the ears 19 on opposite sides of the body portion, so that the bucket may be carried suspended from ones hand.

The wire 20 which binds the edge of the bottom section 4 is crimped at the free corners of said section, as indicated at 21, and is designed to overlie the adjoining corners of the section 3 when the two sections are in closed position, so that the section 4 is not only held closed by the section 3, but also by the bindingmember 8 which extends along the meeting edges of the sections and underneath the crimps 21, which manifestly constitute retaining lugs for holding the section 4 in closed position.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyin drawing, the operation of my improved fruit pickers bucket will be apparent.

In the practical use of the device, the bot tom sections 3 and 4 are held closed by the engagement of the latch 10 with the lugs 12 of the keeper 13. After the bucket has been filled to the desired extent, the contents may be easily discharged through the bottom by releasing the latch 10 and permitting the bottom sections 3 and 4 to swing downwardly to open position, the bucket being thereby emptied without the necessity of pouring the fruit out and without the necessity of picking it out by hand.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and eflicient device for use by fruit pickers which may expedite the fruit picking operation and which will save all unnecessary handling of the fruit which might tend to bruise it.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: I

1. A bucket of the character described, comprising a body portion, hinged bottom sections connected thereto, one of said sections being formed with a marginal binding Wire which is looped upon itself at the free corners of such section to form eyes, means for effecting the support of one section by theother with the sections in closed position, a flexible binding member having a runmng connectlon through said eyes, means for connecting one end of said binding mem- 2. A bucket of the character described, 7 comprising a body portion, hinged bottom I sections connected thereto, one of said sections being formed with a marginal binding wire which is looped upon itself at the free corners of such section, to form eyes,-

the other section being provided with a mar I ginal binding wire crimped upon itself at the free corners of sald section to form retaining lugs adapted to be overlapped by the first-named section in the closed position of the sections, and a flexible binding member having running connection with the said eyes and arranged for detachable connection to the body portion.

3. A bucket of the character described, comprising a body portion, hinged bottom sections connected thereto, one of said sec tions being provided with a marginal binding wire crimped upon itself at the free edge of said section to form retaining lugs adapted to be overlapped by the other section in the closed position of the sections,

and a flexible binding member having run ning connection with such other section and arranged for detachable connection to the 7 body portion.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature v in presence of two witnesses.

. WVitnesses:

H. F. HUBBARD, W. F. CLAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. C. 

